Way to back up iTunes in a flash

TECH SUPPORT - WHO KNEW?

August 4, 2007

QUESTION:

The iTunes program has an option to back up the library to CD or DVD. How can I back it up to a USB flash drive?

ANSWER:

Recent versions of iTunes include a "Back Up to Disc" option under the File menu. It walks you through the steps needed to back up your playlists, audio and video files to a CD or DVD for safekeeping, in case your hard drive goes south and takes your media collection with it.

You are not limited to backup discs, though. You can drag copies of your iTunes file to an external hard drive or USB flash drive. Once you have your backup drive connected to the computer, you need to find your iTunes files. Unless you changed the default location, the iTunes folder and files can be found by going to My Documents to My Music to the iTunes folder in Windows XP or 2000; in Vista, start with the Music folder and go to iTunes. On a Mac, go to your Home folder to Music and then to iTunes.

Dragging the entire iTunes folder to your external-drive icon makes a copy of your media files, playlists, album-artwork folder and library database. If you just want to back up selected albums or songs, open the folder called iTunes Music, inside the main iTunes folder. The tracks are sorted into folders by artist name with album folders inside, so find the files you want to back up and drag them to your external drive.